Nick Gills Commits

Nick Gill, the stand out point guard from Faith Christian, committed to Colorado Christian this past week. Gill has played for the Colorado Chaos AAU Club for the past few summers and has shined. CA/CO Prep Sports wishes Nick and his family the best of luck taking this next step in their lives.

Per Dave Matthews, the Chaos club director:

As a junior last season, Gill averaged 14 points, 6 assists and 3 steals per game while leading his team to the state semi-finals. He was named first team All Conference and second team All State.

CO HS Player Rankings

As the season creeps closer and closer, the discussions of league champions, state champions, and Mr. Basketball begin. Here at CA/CO Prep Sports, we would like to start off with the top ten players in Colorado, regardless of class. Have an opinion on our rankings? Let us know in the comments section directly below the rankings!

Top Ten:

1. Dallas Elmore (Poudre)- He has the ability to take over any game, at any time. His three point shot has shown improvement since last year. As of now, I have to believe that he is the front runner for Colorado 5A Mr. Basketball.

2. Reggie Jackson (Palmer)- Another player that has the ability to make a game changing play every time down the floor. Has tremendous potential.

3. Trey Eckloff (Cherry Creek)- Eckloff has blown up on the scene over the past year, and continues to display development in his game. As deadly from 20 feet as he is from 2 feet. At the RMFS, showed the ability to guard quicker players.

4. Trevor Noonan (Legacy)- I love this kids game. He is smooth to the basket, but can kill you from deep. Look for him to help Legacy advance deep into the post season.

5. Corey Stern (ThunderRidge) Junior- At times, he is simply impossible to guard. He is long, athletic and skilled. While he needs to get more aggressive when he goes to the hoop, his 3-pointer will open up plenty of options for him.

6. Demetrius Thornton (Denver East)- Thornton continues the tradition of great players at East. Thornton is looking to make a splash on the scene after sitting out last year's state championship run for the Angels. If East is ranked 1 or 2 in CO going into the playoffs, he could surprise as Mr. Basketball.

7. O'Rion Hughes (Gateway)- Hughes brings an energy to the game that is unmatched. His enthusiasm and passion are a fun thing to watch. Hughes should lead a Gateway team that will surprise many.

8. James Klemm (Heritage) Junior- Shooting, shooting and more shooting. This kid can do it anytime, and everywhere. Should be one of the best players in the Centennial State for the next two years.

9. Justin Coughlin (Yuma)- The favorite for Mr. Basketball 3A. At 6'8 he should have no problem dominating the competition at his level.

10. Terrance Dent (Mullen)- Dent moved to Mullen last year and helped take them to the Final Four last season. With the loss of all-everything player Devin Aguilar, Dent will need to take on a heavier load.

RMFS Lasting Impressions

Well it has been a few days since the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase and I have seen the final stats for both junior and senior games. After going over my notes again, talking with other Colorado hoop minds, and seeing the stats, here are my lasting impressions hip-hop style:

"Get your roll on"- Big Tymers: Corey Stern (ThunderRidge '09) did just that. Setting a new RMFS scoring record with 28 pts, Stern also recorded 13 rebs, 3 assists and 4 blocks. Stern looks to be the best player in the 2009 class, and should be one of the best if not THE best in the region. If not for his outside shot, Stern would just be another good high school player. Stern hit 4 three-pt shots for the Junior Whites. As he gets stronger at penetrating to the basket, his shot will keep defenses honest and make him nearly impossible to guard at the HS level in Colorado.






"Drop it like it's hot"- Snoop Dogg: Travis Shepard (Fairview '09) "dropped it like it's hot" with his 20 pts in 9-15 shooting including two 3's. He is a long 6'4 guard that along with teammate Beau Gamble should lead Fairview towards the top of the Centennial League in the next two years. Shepard benefited from the penetration abilities of teammates, but there is no mistaking his personal ability. He is an all-league and possibly 2nd team all state type player.






Look for the 2nd half of my Lasting Impressions within the next few days!


***Please note that all pictures from the RMFS were obtained from the Colorado Prep Sports link on Smug Mug. These pictures are not used for personal profit and can be purchased from CPS at http://coloradoprepsports.smugmug.com/gallery/3646105.

Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase Recap

This annual event has become the best place to catch the most talented players that the Rocky Mountain Region has to offer. Ca/CO Prep Sports would like to thank Dave Matthews and the Colorado Chaos organization for this great event.

Now, I was only able to make it for the junior game, three point contest, dunk contest and the senior game. Below is my recap with player evaluations.

Senior Game:

Trey Eckloff, Denver (CO) Cherry Creek, committed to Colorado- Trey looked great in the senior game. He showed off an exceptional perimeter game while still being able to get to the basket. Defensively, he guarded Demetrius Thorton. While Thorton seemed to be the more athletic, Eckloff looked great moving his feet. When Thorton did get passed him, Eckloff was able to record about 3-4 blocks in the first

quarter. While at CU, Eckloff needs to improve his handle and strength.

O'Rion Hughes, Aurora (CO) Gateway- Hughes was the champion of both the dunk contest and the 3 pt contest. Hughes is one of the quickest defenders in recent years and he has the ability to get out on the break as well as anyone. He would be a great get for a RMAC team.

Demetrius Thorton, Denver (CO) East- Thorton looked great going to the basket, but was rejected several times by Eckloff. Initially, he lacked the explosiveness to finish above the rim in traffic, but he began to go harder to the basket and reached the charity stripe consistently. Thorton is a very good player that has a high ceiling. At this point, he is a low-major D-1 to a D-2 prospect.

Trevor Noonan, Broomfield (CO) Legacy, Committed to Air Force- At times, Noonan looked like the best player on the floor. He is dynamic going to the basket as he can go to the rack and finish or he can pull up for the jump shot. At 6'8 with long arms and quick feet, he has a huge upside. His mid range game is nice, but it is his driving ability that impressed me. Because he can shoot as well as anyone, he has the opportunity to go by defenders. Look for Noonan to blossom into a great MWC player.

Justin Coughlin, Yuma (CO) Yuma, Committed to Denver- Standing at 6'8, it would be easy to tell why DU recruited Coughlin. Still, Coughlin was one of the thinnest men on the floor, and simply looked over matched. Solely based on what I saw yesterday, Coughlin does not look like a D-1 prospect.

Mitch Frasier, Boulder (CO) Boulder- While not physically imposing, Frasier is a player that simply gets the job done. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor at anytime. If he is left open, he will make it, plain and simple. If you give him 1 foot of room, he will make it. He is simply the most deadly shooter in the state.

Junior Game:

Corey Stern, Highlands Ranch (CO) ThunderRidge-
Stern was named the MVP of the Junior Game. Had over 20 pts, I believe over 10 rebs., and quite a few assists. At times he looked like he couldn't be guarded with his long frame, athleticism to the basket and sweet stroke from 3. Stern looks to be good at just about everything, but not great at anything. In order for him to be a solid D-1 prospect, he needs to improve his explosiveness and ball handling. At 6'6 or so, he is going to need to be able to dribble penetrate past quicker defenders (handling) and then rise up in traffic and finish above the rim. Right now, Stern is a low-mid major prospect based on my observations.

Marquis Burleson, Colorado Springs (CO) Doherty- Burleson looked to me like the most dynamic player on the court at times. He has to ability to get to the basket and finish with crafty moves and a thick body. His shot looked to be solid from 3, but his midrange game did leave some to be desired.

Bryse Velazquez, Colorado Springs (CO) Doherty- While Velazquez has been talked about as possibly the best player in the 2009 class, it did not show at the RMFS. He forced the actions consistently, and looked to get his nearly every time. He is generally a reliable ball handler and showed some flashy passing skills. He was consistently able to get past the first two defenders but was too small to finish at the basket.

Beau Gamble, Boulder (CO) Fairview- Gamble fits the classic mold of a Frank Lee (Fairview coach) player. He is quick, tough, plays great defense, and shoots the lights out. Gamble was able to provide full court pressure without getting beat once. He simply dedicates himself to stopping the other player and it works. On offense, he does not turn the ball over and if left open, is deadly from deep.

DU gets a bball commit

Brian Stafford, Walnut Creek (CA) Las Lomas, recently verbally committed to play for the University of Denver. The Pioneers are getting an excellent shooter that makes plays all over the floor. Stafford played for Northern California's top ranked AAU team, Lakeshow.

Northern California Boys Basketball Commits

Always one of the most talented regions for basketball in the country, Northern California features one of the most talented 2008 classes in the country this year. Here is a list of commits so far from Norcal.

PS: If I am missing someone, please comment with the player, school, and college!

Drew Gordon San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- UCLA
Over the past few years, UCLA has gained a reputation of playing arguably the toughest defense in the country. The Bruins have another defensive stud coming to Westwood in Gordon. A freak athletically, Gordon has become a force in the paint by altering shots and cleaning up the boards. For him to have NBA potential, he needs to improve his offensive skill set dramatically.

D.J. Seeley Modesto Christian (CA)- California
Creates match up problems at the Shooting Guard with his long frame. Could have an amazing career at Cal if he improves his perimeter skill set namely his ball handling.

Elston Turner Roseville (CA) Roseville- Washington
While Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar has recruited himself lots of athleticism the past few years, Turner looks to be of a different mold. Turner is a lights out shooter that will extend defenses. His athleticism leaves a little bit to be desired so his defense will be an issue in college.

Other commits:
Chris Jones Newark (CA) Newark Memorial- Fresno St
Collin Chiverton San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- St. Mary's CA
Tim Williams Antioch (CA) Antioch- St. Mary's CA
William Brew Berkeley (CA) St. Mary's-Berkeley- Santa Barbera
Oliver McNally Ross (CA) Branson- Harvard
Enoch Andoh San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- Bucknell

Past Material

Here are links to some of my past material that I have written over the last two years or so.

My award winning piece regarding High School recruitment: http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8715&aid=133800

Northern California's 2007 NCS semi-finalist California HS http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8871&aid=135887

Again, California HS's basketball http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8893&aid=136713

Column regarding the 2007 sexual assault case at De Anza College (Aptos, CA) http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8931&aid=136803

Another feature story regarding HS recruiting http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8898&aid=136392

CA Game of the Week

While De La Salle vs. Mission Viejo has been a classic match up for the last couple of years, I am looking at an EBAL match up between California and Monte Vista. Cal comes off a huge 31-7 win against Foothill (Pleasanton) while Monte Vista is looking to win it's 2nd EBAL title in the last 3 years. I look for this game to be a bit of a shootout with both teams featuring serious talent on the offensive side of the ball. I'm interested to see how Cal's DB's handle the passing attack that Monte Vista QB Drew McCallister brings to the table.

Spotlight is on:

QB/DB Drew McCallister- The Monte Vista standout committed to the University of Southern California before the season. Look for the match up between him and the Cal WR's to be the deciding factor in the game.

QB Nick Spalliero- Cal's QB has yet to commit to a school. Since Nick is a dual-threat QB, he is going to create match up problems all year. If he can establish the passing game early, much like against Foothill, then he will have open space to run in.

CO Week 6 game of the week

While the game of the week lies on Thursday between Arvada West and Columbine, I am looking forward Boulder v. Cherry Creek. Boulder is coming off their first victory against Overland in 8 years while Cherry Creek is looking to keep up with Mullen in the upper echelon of the Centennial League.

Spotlight is on:
LB Will Pericak (6'4 247 lbs) Boulder- Committed to the University of Colorado this past week.
QB Jack Elway (6'2 197 lbs) Cherry Creek- Has yet to commit, but as the son of Denver Bronco great John Elway, Jack has garnered plenty of attention.

Colorado Basketball Commitments

The class of 2008 in Colorado is starting to look like the strongest class CO has seen in the last decade. With many touting the 2006 and 2007 classes as the deepest that the state has seen in quite some time, the young men of 2008 are starting to show high-major commitments already.

Trey Eckloff, Denver (CO) Cherry Creek, 6'9 220 lbs- Univ. of Colorado (Big XII)
Rated as a 3* prospect by Rivals.com, Eckloff has yet to show flashes of dominance in the CO prep scene. Eckloff has a good upside, but needs to improve his athletic ability to be able to guard PF's at the Big XII level. He also held offers from Nebraska, Columbia, Harvard and Princeton.

Dallas Elmore, Ft. Collins (CO) Poudre, 6'4 200- Boston College (ACC)
Another 3* prospect by Rivals.com, Elmore made his name known this past summer in Vegas by putting up some of the most impressive offensive numbers of the weekend. Elmore is an explosive player that will thrive in the Eagles uptempo style. He also had offers from Colorado State and Wyoming.

Reggie Jackson, Colorado Springs (CO) Palmer, 6'3 170 lbs.- Boston College (ACC)
Shortly after receiving a verbal from Elmore, BC picked up their 2nd CO stud in Jackson. A high-flying athletic wing, Jackson has as much potential as any player in the country. With the improvement in his outside shot, Jackson could be an All-ACC type player by his junior year. He also had offers from Wyoming and Nevada.

Other 2008 Colorado commits:

Justin Coughlin, Yuma (CO)- Univ. of Denver
Trevor Noonan, Broomfield (CO) Legacy- Air Force
Terrance Dent, Denver (CO) Mullen- Weber State
CA/CO Prep Sports congratulates all of these players and their accomplishments!

COMING SOON!- A complete list of 2008 Norcal commits!

Prep Football 9-28

Northern California- The game of the weekend for me was California v. Foothill in a classic EBAL showdown. While Foothill entered the game ranked in the top 20 by Rivals.com, California came into the contest looking to solidify themselves as a top teir team in the Bay Area. Led by LB Nick Rosato and QB Nick Spalleiro, the Grizzlies of California dominated Foothill in every aspect of the game. Foothill's QB was forced out of the pocket on numerous occasions leading to a few INT's that jumpstarted the California offense. It took Cal three-quarters to really get going and finished off the game with a 31-7 victory. LB Rosato has the measurables of a D-1 prospect (MWC, WAC type) but has the work ethic of a BCS recruit. According to Rivals.com he currently holds offers from Colorado State, Air Force, Utah State, and Nevada. Foothill RB/LB Rob Andrews looked solid as usual and it consistently takes three or four defenders to bring him down. On defense, he is the leader and is in the mix on every play. At 6'2 211 lbs, he is good size for a college LB, but he is too slow to really be a force. I would not be surprised if he was a recruited walk-on at a BCS school because he is hard nosed and has a solid work ethic.

Colorado- The biggest upset of the year took place when Regis Jesuit took out #3 Douglas County. DC is headlined by Tyler Jackson, an athletic CD that according to Rivals.com is a 2* prospect. His best offers so far are from Washington St and Kansas, but look for Colorado to offer before long. Jackson is long, fast and has a knack for the grabbing the INT.

Thoughts on recruiting- When will some one step up and snatch James Logan (Union City, CA) CB Rashad Evans? This kid is a freak athletically, while only 5'9, but his instincts are there. Oregon is the only BCS school to offer, but he apparentally has garnered interest from Florida lately. Also, as I said earlier, Tyler Jackson (Douglas County, Castle Rock, CO) deserves that offer from Colorado. CU is thin at nearly every position, and Jackson will help that. Jackson has put up monster numbers so far this year, and that tape should bring more offers his way.

Welcome!

Welcomed to the newest outlet for prep sports coverage in Northern California and the metro Colorado regions presented by myself, William Whelan. I have been involved in prep sports in both regions for the last four years. I consider myself one of the most informed, and most dedicated minds in the business. I look forward to providing all of you with my takes and information on two the of the most competitive regions for prep sports in the country!